Magnetic resonance imaging for solitary lesions of bone: when, why, how useful?

The radiologist and orthopedic surgeon have a wide array of imaging modalities to choose from in diagnosing and staging solitary tumors of bone. MR imaging is the examination of choice for staging solitary tumors of bone. The radiograph, however, remains the most reliable imaging modality for predicting tumor histology. Radiographic interpretation in most instances ought to be the most influential factor in determining whether further imaging is required. This article reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the various imaging modalities and attempts to present a logical, cohesive, reproducible approach to the diagnosis and evaluation of solitary tumors of bone.